Since the global financial crisis, youth unemployment has risen rapidly. Worldwide, the rate of unemployment among people aged 15–24 years old, stands at over 13 percent, according to the International Labor Organization. In Africa, the problem is particularly acute. In this podcast, we explore the causes and the policies which could help.

Over the last decade, many countries in sub-Saharan Africa have experienced much higher growth than in the past. But have those gains been shared equally by all? Two Fund economists discuss how far economic growth in Africa has improved the lives of the poor.

The IMF is optimistic about the prospects for Sub-Saharan Africa, and expects regional growth to be around 5 percent in the coming year. But commodity price swings, inflation and the risk of a global downturn threaten this outlook. The Director of the IMF's Africa Department identifies the latest key economic trends in the region and how they will affect its people.

The IMF has opened a new technical assistance center in Mauritius which will allow member countries in southern Africa to leverage IMF know-how. The opening of "Afritac" is in response to growing demand for IMF expertise.

There are many economic pitfalls associated with being a resource-rich country: high inflation, Dutch disease, and volatile commodity prices, to name a few. But there are also political dangers. A top political scientist explains why political factors are as important as the economic.

The discovery of oil off the coast of Ghana back in 2007 was met with joy in the country. But Ghana was also determined not to fall victim to the corruption and conflict which has bedeviled other oil-rich countries. So, four years on, how much progress has this west African country made?

For over half a century, gross domestic product has been used as the single most important measure of a country's progress. But, according to Joseph Stiglitz, GDP fails to reflect a nation's overall well-being. The Nobel laureate argues for more inclusive growth.

Severe droughts, combined with an increase in the global prices for basic staples, have led to desperate food shortages in the Horn of Africa. In this podcast, Josette Sheeran, the head of the United Nations World Food Program describes the conditions she witnessed during her recent visit to the region.

Low-income countries rich in natural resources have performed worse economically than might be expected, falling prey to conflict, corruption, or overdependence on that resource. Paul Collier, a leading academic in the field of development, believes countries can learn from the past to successfully ride "the commodity tiger."

In recent years, commodity prices have surged and fallen dramatically. To try and help low-income countries who have been hit hard by this volatility, the IMF has developed a new tool to anticipate the impact of price fluctuations.

Severe droughts are gripping the Horn of Africa, leaving millions needing emergency assistance. Antoinette Sayeh, director of the Africa Department at the IMF, speaks about the Fund's response to the crisis.